﻿﻿﻿Tales of the Trail...﻿﻿﻿

Congratulations to all the Kelowna peeps who participated in Hallow's Eve Trail Race in North Vancouver this weekend. This event is one of those races you want to put on your race schedule if you haven't tried it out yet. With three distances to choose from, it's easy to find a fit that is best for you. PACE has travelled down for this race 4 or 5 times in the past, as our season wrap up race. We haven't planned a 'group trip' the past few years but there was some solid Kelowna & PACE representation and some impressive results.

Unlike most of the terrain in Kelowna, Hallow's Eve serves up a whole mix of technical, wet, rooty and rocky terrain in this race. The trails are beautiful. The race organizers know how to make it fun and there is a relaxed/goofy yet competitive feel to this race with so many people dressing up. I am so happy for everyone who participated and again, congrat's on a challenging late season race.

Are you curious about the Gore-Tex Transalpine Run? Do you wonder if it is a race for you? Or what is involved in terms of preparation and costs? Get all your questions answered and be inspired. Hear stories from my last 4 years of participating in this event and learn more about the 2015 MTN Running Camp that are an ideal way to help prepare for a race like this.

Join me on November 11th for a fun evening of Alps! Full details on the events page. Click Here.

Some people are afraid to run trails in the dark. If you fall into this category, fear not! Not only can learning to run at night be fun, it can also be easy to overcome it holds great advantages.

One great thing about night running is how it changes the old into new. You can head out and run the same ol' trail you always run during the day and at night it will both feel and look very different. I love how I can run terrain that I might otherwise hike at night because my perception is more present and my mind can't talk me out of running a hill that I can't see so far ahead. It is an awesome way to build strength! It also awakens other senses that you take for granted when you run during the day. Especially on familiar trails.

Running at night also has other advantages. Especially if you hit more technical terrain! It will help sharpen your reaction times and improve your agility which will translate over nicely come spring when the days get longer and your new year goals get closer.

Lastly, learning to run at night can help you fit in your longer runs and will allow you to maintain your endurance base during the shorter winter days.

flashlight or headlamp?

The first thing to ask yourself when deciding on what light option is best for you is whether you want to carry your light or wear your light.

The flashlight might give runners more precise focus but you'll have to hold it and most new night runners need the focus and confidence in their skill before they are comfortable holding a flashlight.

The headlamp is hands free but some people don't like the light angle and it can sometimes make it difficult to distinguish some technical terrain due to the shadows it can create.

Some people use both.

Most people find it more comfortable to use a headlamp and it your headlamp has at least 100-lumen (preferably 200+ lumen) the trail will be lit nicely ahead of you. Just remember you can't wear a hat with a brim while wearing a headlamp as the brim will cause your lamp to shine too high and far ahead of you. You are best to wear a headband, toque or hat backwards as it will help keep the headlamp in place, yet not obstruct the light.

There are lots of lamps on the market and depending on your budget and needs, you'll want to do a bit of research before purchasing the right one for you.

﻿I use the black diamond Icon lamp and I love it. It is light, comfortable and provides ample light. You can purchase this lamp at True Outdoors ﻿if you're in the market for a new one!

There are still spots left in the Maintenance Clinic starting next Wednesday with PACE. This clinic is geared for those who want to stay motivation as our weather gets cooler and the days get shorter. We help keep you moving so you don't hibernate and lose all the fitness you have built this year.

In this clinic we do our long runs on Wednesday night. So headlamps are mandatory. We have 3 weekend events also included which focus on endurance and social functions. For the weeks we have the events, we will do a structured stamina/strength session as a group the Wednesday before. A complete training schedule will be included in your registration.

We are going to bet boredom. Be accountable. Keep up our runs heading into and through the hectic holiday season and when January comes we are going to feel focused. Ready to tackle our new year goals and races and feel rested, yet stronger!

This clinic is suitable for runners who are currently running 45min 1-2x's per week or as long as 2.5hrs 2x's per week. Please note: these runs are held during the evenings and the majority are on trails.

I love how PACE draws such caring and devoted people to the family. Nadine is a prime example of someone who loves to run, the outdoors, explore, travel... and does it while giving back to others. Good luck with your fundraising efforts and upcoming travels Nadine!

On November 2 I am travelling to Nepal to trek up to Everest Base Camp, Kalapattar with a group of people called Summits of Hope order to raise funds for BC Children’s Hospital Foundation.Summits of Hope is a Vancouver based non profit association that since 1999 has lead expeditions to some of the highest mountains on our planet, while raising funds to support some of the best care and research in the world, at BC Children's Hospital. They have climbed in Alaska, Nepal, Argentina, Russia, Tanzania, Peru and Ecuador and to date, Summits of Hope has raised over 2.5 million dollars for BC Children’s Hospital. All climbers are volunteers and pay our own way so everything raised goes to this cause.To me this is a special cause. When my niece Olivia was first born the doctors thought that she had a heart condition that could have been life threatening due to a rare heart condition that runs in the family. Se had to get air lifted to BCCH which, of course, is any new mother and fathers’ biggest fear. Luckily, the diagnosis was false and my sister and brother in-law got to bring home a healthy, beautiful baby girl. Many of the children that visit and stay at this facility aren’t as lucky as Olivia and are battling for their life. Needless to say, when I heard about Summits of Hope a year ago I knew this was something I needed to be a part of. Trekking through the Himalaya’s is already the experience of a lifetime, but to be able to combine it with helping make a difference in the lives of sick kids in our province is an incredible feeling and I couldn’t be more enthusiastic and proud to be a part of this! Walking through the hospital and meeting the kids this summer, especially on the oncology floor was an emotional experience and I will be thinking of these kids as well as my 2 nieces as I strive to reach Everest Base Camp in a months time.The best way to donate if interested is to consider purchasing a prayer flag. It’s been long tradition for climbers to carry these brightly coloured flags on long treks in the mountains and on them are messages of hope. It is believed that every time the wind blows, the hopes and dreams of each flag are lifted from the material, and carried up into the heavens amongst the highest places on earth.We carry flags as well, but the messages on them are your words of inspiration or hope that we bring out at the base of the highest place on earth!For more information or if you feel like donating to this very special cause please check out my profile page and the summits of hope website!Thank you all for such a fantastic summer and fall! Running with PACE has increased my love for trail running by 100% and I can’t wait to join up and run with you all again when I’m back :) http://www.summitsofhope.com/climberProfile/nadine_klawitter

What race did you participate in over the weekend and can you tell us a bit about the profile and terrain?

Spartan Race Sun Peaks Beast Race. It was 24 km with 28 obstacles. The first 10 km traverses to the top (6100 ft). You then begin the decent and have no choice but to get dirty and wet depending on the obstacles. It is unavoidable. Once the descent is completed you get to do a short climb straight up again and descend on the finish. The obstacles are sprinkled throughout the course. The kids did the Spartan Race Kids and had a blast.

What motivated you to sign up for the event?

I was asked as a favor by a good friend to be on his team for his 40th Bday. When I commit to something I usually dive into it . My motivation was to be ready and not just wing it. So without joining PACE and training with the 25km group/leaders I would have not been able to finish like I did. Seeing other participants laying on the side of the trail trying to roll their calves out with a small tree log was pretty crazy. Also my beautiful wife Jody is a leader with PACE so joining made sense on all fronts. We were able to spend so quality time running with PACE and on our own runs together (kidless!):).

Tell us a little about your running background. Have you always been a runner?

I am a born and breed football player. All my previous training revolved around football. I ran track at University doing the 100/200 sprints. I'm used to those type of interval workouts. The furthest I have ever ran was 5 miles so this was defiantly unchartered territory. I had to reprogram my thinking as having a sprinter mentality and learn how to PACE myself.

How did you train/prepare for the event?

I joined PACE fall clinic to get the km's in on the trails and pushed myself in the Enduro 9 km Loop at PACE headquarters which was the furthest I have ever run. Jody and I would also run an extra day a week on the trail. I used my gym workouts to prepare for the obstacles and PACE to prepare for the track.

How do eat when you’re going through obstacles and it sounds like you’re all over the map. Do you carry food and water with you or do they provide that along the way?

I had my camelpak loaded with bars and gels. The warning from race info was " If you don't hydrate and fuel you will not finish!". They had a few water stations (only) but defiantly wasn't enough if you hadn't brought your own pack. I fueled every 45 mins usually on the climbs with gels. I had bars but didn't feel like eating them but was diligent with gels. I felt like I had energy throughout. One of my team members chose not to use his gels or any fuel and he cramped quickly and bonked. He thinks he tore his calf in the process. There were lots of people cramping all over the course.

What’s next? Did you catch the bug?

I caught the bug and squashed it right away:) I promised Jody I would do a run with her so we are thinking " Hallows eve" maybe. Since I have the base now it makes sense. After that I will ride into the sunset until my next friend on their 40th asks me to be on his team. I would like to thank PACE and all the leaders (Ian, Nathan, Rene, Jody) and team members I ran with for all their help. It was great to push myself again like that.